New York State Record Channel Catfish: 37 lb 9 oz
The New York state record channel catfish weighed 37 lb 9 oz and measured 40 inches. It was caught in 2025 from Black River Bay in Jefferson County by Dylan Kampnich, and the New York DEC still recognizes it as the state mark 1 years later.
Where the record came from
The record came from Black River Bay in Jefferson County. We don't carry a water-quality grade for it: our index covers standing lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal samples to score, which leaves out rivers and tributaries, Great Lakes water, and smaller ponds that are rarely sampled. Browse the New York lakes we do grade instead.
Channel Catfish records by state
New York ranks 8 of 12 among the states in our index for record channel catfish. Illinois holds the heaviest at 45 lb 4 oz, set in 1987.
| # | State | Weight | Year | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 45 lb 4 oz | 1987 | Baldwin Lake |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 44 lb | 1962 | Wisconsin River |
| 3 | North Dakota | 42 lb 1 oz | 2009 | Moon Lake |
| 4 | Michigan | 40 lb | 1964 | Houghton Lake |
| 5 | Iowa | 38 lb 2 oz | 2005 | Missouri River (Little Sioux to Council Bluffs) |
| 6 | Minnesota | 38 lb | 1975 | Mississippi River |
| 7 | Ohio | 37 lb 10 oz | 1992 | LaDue Reservoir |
| 8 | New York (this page) | 37 lb 9 oz | 2025 | Black River Bay |
| 9 | Indiana | 37 lb 8 oz | 1980 | Lake |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 35 lb 3 oz | 1991 | Lehigh Canal |
| 11 | Missouri | 34 lb 10 oz | 1976 | Lake Jacomo |
| 12 | South Dakota | 30 lb 1 oz | 2019 | Farm Pond |
Each figure comes from that state's own fisheries agency. Agencies differ on what they certify — some recognize catch-and-release length records alongside weight — so treat this as a comparison of standing certified weights, not a single national list.
How it ranks inside New York
5 of New York's 20 standing records are heavier than the 37 lb 9 oz channel catfish — unsurprising, since record weight tracks species size more than anything about the water. 18 New York records have stood longer, the channel catfish mark dating to 2025.